The Stars’ changes are just starting.
Dallas on Friday traded top center Mike Ribeiro to the Washington Capitals for 21-year-old center Cody Eakin and the 54th pick in the 2012 entry draft. Eakin brings in a high upside, but the trade of Ribeiro leaves the Stars without a proven, natural top six center.

Ribeiro was third in scoring for the Stars last season with 63 points (18G, 45A) in 74 games and he has been in the top four in scoring for the past five seasons in Dallas. The Stars are using converted winger Jamie Benn as a center right now, but have talked about wanting to move him back to a wing.

That means they could be in trade talks to acquire a No. 1 center throughout the summer.

Eakin should be in the mix as a potential top six center. While propects such as Scott Glennie and Tomas Vincour have played center in the past, they appear to be natural wingers in the NHL. However, Eakin has played his entire life as a center and could be ready for a big step up at the age of 21.

Taken in the third round by Washington (85th overall) in 2009, Eakin took off with two great junior hockey seasons following the draft. The 6-foot, 189-pounder had 91 points (47G, 44A) in 70 games for Swift Current in 2009-10 and then followed that up with 83 points (36G, 47A) in 56 games split between Swift Current and Kootenay in 20010-11.

But what might have been his most impressive performance came in the 2011 WHL playoffs. Eakin tallied 27 points (11G, 16A) in 19 playoff games for Kootenay as the Ice won the WHL championship. A teammate on that team was Stars prospect Matt Fraser.

Logically, it would appear both Eakin and Fraser have a chance to play on the Stars next season — possibly as linemates on the second line. However, the fact the Stars could still be fishing for a No. 1 center or for a winger to play beside Benn makes the summer very interesting.

Ribeiro is in the final year of his contract, making $5 million, so the Stars open up more than $4 million in salary and cap space (Eakin has a cap hit of $637,778). The 32-year-old should get a chance to use his skill on a very talented Capitals’ lineup.

In addition to Eakin, Dallas drafted center Radek Faksa with the 13th pick in the entry draft Friday in Pittsburgh. Faksa is a solid two-way center who probably is a couple of years away from playing in the NHL, but he helps bolster an area of need for the Stars.